Sectional insulated floor



Dec. 29, 1953 'A. DIETRICH 2,663,915

SECTIONAL INSULATED FLOOR Filed July 14. 1950 2 sheets-sheet 1 IINVENTOR Q er/'@ f WM/ ATTORNEY Dec. 29, 1953 A, D|ETR|CH 2,663,915

SECTIONAL INSULATED FLOOR Filed July 14, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYPatented ec. 29, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE sECTIoNAL INsULA'rEDFLooR` Albert Dietrich, New York, N. Y., assigner to the United Statesof America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Application July14, 1950, serial No. 173,735

1 Claim. (Cl. 20-6) My invention relates to sectional oors and moreparticularly to such floors as incorporate heat insulation thereinwhereby the transmission of heat or cold through the floor is materiallyretarded.

The iioor according to the invention is particuarly adapted forbuildings of either a permanent or temporary nature particularly thelatter which are erected in cold regions such as the` Arc- :tic andAntarctic regions. In such regions, the cold is extreme and outdoor workeven with adequate clothing is hazardous except for extremely shortperiods of time. Also, the ground is always frozen to substantiallygreat depths and/or covered with frozen snow or ice whereby the levelingof an area suitable for the foundation of the building is not onlyextremely difcult but requires a relatively large number of outdoorworking periods which are, as aforesaid, undesirable.

Consequently, it is highly desirable to provide a oor which will becapable of beingseated Vdirectly on the ground and/or the frozencovering thereof with little or no grading, which will have adequateinsulating qualities and yet which will be self leveling to a greatextent whereby at least the smaller surface irregularities are impotentto distort the floor or portions thereof out of the general level of theterrain. Obviously, to facilitate portability, such a floor must beformed of a plurality of portable sections or panels and there must beprovided means for connecting the several panels together which aresimple in operation and which may be actuated 'by personnel wearinggloves. Finally, at least .certain of the panels should includesill-providving .means or the like to facilitate the attaching of thebuilding studs and/or walls thereto.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of 'my invention to providean improved sectional, insulated iioor.

A further object is to provide an improved secvvtional floor whichincludes a bottom, foundationproviding lamination of insulatingmaterial.

A further object is to provide a floor such as that last described,wherein the insulating material is composed of resilient material andofy sufficient thickness to envelop at least the smaller surfaceirregularities whereby to render the oor self leveling.

'A further object is to provide a floor such as that last describedwhich is composed of a plurality of intertting panels, together withmeans for readily detachably connecting said panels together inedge-to-edge relation.

A further object is to provide in such a floor,

lsuch sill panels having sill-providing means on the upper surfacesthereof.

A further object is to provide such a oor wherein the assemblies of sillpanels have joints in offset relation to the joints of the assembly offloor panels whereby to increase the rigidity of the entire floor. v A

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of myinvention, in the structure of the several elements thereof,combinations, subcombinations and arrangements of such elements, all ofwhich will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art uponreference to the attached drawing in connection with the followingspecification wherein the invention is shown, described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view showing one form of floor according to theinvention;

` Figure 2 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of one of the sill panelsof the floor;

Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the upper lefthand corner of Figure 1 showing a building wall attached to the floor;

-Figure 4 is an enlarged, transverse vertical sectional view takensubstantially on the plane of the line 4-4 of Figure 3; Figure 5 is afragmentary plan view of a slightly modied floor.

Referring specifically to the drawing, where- 'in like referencecharacters have been used throughout the several views to designate likeparts, l0 designates generally one form of iioor according to theinvention which may provide a.

site sides by elongated assemblies of rectangular sill panels I3. It isdesirable to have a definite relation between the length and width ofthe sill panels I3 and length and width of the floor panels 2 so as topermit not only enlarging and l reducing the size of the oor by addingor subtracting sill and floor panels but also to permit 3 the formationof a rectangular iloor. Thus, in the embodiments illustrated, each sillpanel I3 is as longas the combined width of two oor panels and equallyas long as each floor panel. Also the sill panels I3 are one half aswide as the floor panels l2. These proportions, or others to the sameeffect, permit the formation of the rectangular licor I of Figure 5. Theoor Ill' is formed by allowing the terminal sill panels I3 of each sillpanel assembly to project beyond the ends of the floor panel assembly.The spaces between the projecting ends of sill panel assemblies arefilled in by slightly modified sill panels I3', providing end sill panelassemblies, wherebya rectangular floor may be formed if desired.

It should be noted that the side sill .panel assemblies are offsetrelative to the oor panel assembly so that the transverse `iointsbetween adjacent sill panels I3 are out of registry with the;corresponding joints between vadjacent hoor ,Panels I2. sill panels -l3one and one half times longer than Likewise, in Figure by making the thefloor panels I2, the joints between end sill `panels -I3areout ofregistrywith the longitiudinal joints between the floorpanels I2. Theeffect of this .arrangement is important in that it gives longitudinalVrigidil'fy to the floor I0 of Figure l and longitudinal and transverserigidity or all around VCrigidity tothe .floor of Figure 5 wherebyYcostrengtlfien the same.

Each .floor-.panel l2rand sill panel I3 or I3 is of a laminated nature.to provide a relatively rigid floor-providing lamination Il at the topand a resilient or yielding foundation providing lamination .l 8 ofinsulating material at the bottom. The

floor-providing laminations I1 may be of any suitable material andstructure and their actual makeup forms no part of the presentinvention. Lightness, strength and heatinsulating qualities aredesirable anda number of commercial panels A are suitable for-mypurpose. For instance, each of the ioor providing laminati'ons. Il maycom- .prisetop-and bottom skins I4 of metal covering ahoneycomb body I5of any suitable material. k.fIf'i'ielbodies I5 are preferably Vboundedby frames I6 of wood or other suitable rigid material..

t The floor-providing laminations I'I are bonded inany suitable. mannerto relatively thicker foundation-providing laminations I8 each of whichis composed of resilient insulating material l preferably of Vthe natureof sponge rubber. Sponge 'rubber is suitable rfor-most climates but isto be expected Ithat temperatures bewhere it low the freezing point ofrubber are to be encountered, synthetic equivalents of sponge rubberhaving suiiiciently low freezing points should be bstituted. Indeed,sponge rubber-like material may be eliminated entirely from thefoundationproviding laminations and non-freezing yieldable insulatedmaterial of Vany suitable nature substitilted if desired.

Y The vfloor panels I2 and sill panels I3 interfit by meansof .tonguesI9 Yformed on two adjacent edges of the frames IiiA of eachfloor-providing laminati n. Il .of each panel and complementary grooves20 .formed in the remaining edges ofsuch frames. IB The panels of eachassembly are locked .together .and the sill and floor panel assemblies.are locked to each other by any suitable asteners of a type whichmay beoperated by gloved personnel. Thus, for example, the upper edge portionsof each iioor panel I2 may be formed with a semi-circular recess 2|,Fig. 3, on each side of and adjacent to each corner thereof.

Such recesses 2l each have secured therein a aeeacis semi-detent means22. When the panels are assembled, each recess 2l will register with acomplementary recess 2| and semi-detent means 22 of an adjacent floorpanel. Likewise, identical recesses 2| and semi-detent means 22 arelocated on Vthe sill panels I3 so as to register with complementaryrecesses and detents of adjacent door and sill panels. A single rotarycam fastener 23 may now be inserted into each pair of registeredrecesses 2I for operative engagement with the pairs of semi-detente 22therein. Rotation of the fasteners 23 -clarnp the adjacent panelstogether in a well known manner. The fasteners 23 may be protectedagainst damage by caps 24 which are heldin place Yin any suitable manneras by spring fingers 25 depending therefrom which engage beneathilan'ges 26 on the fasteners which engage beneath flanges 2E on thefasteners 23. The particular fastener illustrated is a well knowncommercial item which is disclosed in Patent Number l:'x84,069v toAnderson, dated May 11, 1926, and forms no part of the present inventionexcept in combination with the rest of the structure.

It should be noted that the foundation-provid'- ing laminations i8 areslightly laterally offset relative to the hoor-providing lamination I 1,as best seen in Fig. 4. It is understood, also, .that the laminationsI'I and I8 are similarly longitudinally oiset. This arrangement oifsets.the joints between abutting laminations I8 relative to correspondingjoints between laminations I'I.

The sill panels I3 are best seen in Figures 2,3 and e and as each isidentical it will suffice to describe but a single one of them. A vpairof sills or sill boxes 2 is mounted atop each sill panel I3 in spacedlongitudinal alignment by any suitable fastening means such 'as thebolts 23 Vwhich pass downwardly therethrough, Fig. 4, and through thefloor-providing lamination l'l. Spacer blocks 32 between the metal skinsMarebored furthe passage of the bolts 28 `and relieve the honeycombstructure I 5 from crushing strains as the nuts 33 oi the bolts 28 aretightened to clamp the sill boxes 21 in place. Likewise, Figure 2, thehoneycomb structure I5 is relieved of crushing strains of the walls 35by means of .cross braces 34,' two or more of which are disposed beloweach sill box lbetween the skins I4 of the sill panels' I3.

Each sill box 2l may b'e of hollow tubular structure and 'for the forinof building disclosed here and in` my co-pending application aforesaid,will have upwardly converging side walls 29 'each of which is formedwith a row of bolt holes 30. rNuts or like fasteners 3I are welded orotherwise secured to the inside of each side wall 23 in axialalignmentwith the bolt holes 30. Thus, bolts 3B may be passed throughthe walls 35 of the building and the bolt holes 30 for threaded engage-'ment with the Vnuts 3l whereby the walls are anchored to the sill boxes21. Obviously, ifth'e building involved has vertical walls, the sidewalls 29 of the sill boxes 21 would likewise be vertical.

Each sill Ypanel i3 is provided with a plurality o'fspacer. blocks 3lbetween the skins I4 andon oppositesides ofthe sill boxes 2. Such spacerblocks are. formed with downwardly and angularly directed holes whichare continued through the skins I4 and which are preferably lined withanysuitable bushings 38. Any suitable anchor stakes 39 may be drivenVthrough the bushings 38 and aligned holes 43 in thefoundation-providing laminations I8 Vso as to seat in the ground andanchor the floor yi-Il thereto. .The end sill panels I3' may beidentical to the sill panels I3 but have been here modihed slightly insize, position of sill boxes 21 :and position of the recesses 2l to suitspecific needs involved. However, otherwise they are identical to thesill panels I3 so a detailed description thereof is believed to beunnecessary.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the oor Il) may be readilyset up on reasonably level ground without regard to at least minorsurface irregularities as these will be enveloped by thefoundation-providing laminations as shown in Figure 4. Thus, little orno grading is requiredY prior to the setting up of the oor. Inasmuch asthe side edges of the foundation laminations I8 are in resilient-abutting relation with the adjacent laminations I8, substantially draftfree joints are formed. This feature, together with the inherentinsulating properties of the laminations I8 and the offsetting of thejoints of the laminations as aforesaid, provide a substantially airtightfloor with excellent heat insulating properties whereby the oor I0 maybelaid directly on snow, ice or frozen ground. Likewise, the insulatingproperties of the iioor are useful in retarding the transmission of heatfrom the interior of the building which, for obvious reasons, is highlyden sirable when the building is erected directly on frozen snow or ice.

It follows from the foregoing that I have provided a combined floor,foundation and sill struc ture which is inherently light in weight andyet which issuliciently strong for its purpose. Moreover, the floor I0may be readily laid by unskilled personnel wearing gloves with a minimumof effort and without special tools. Obviously, the

nature of the connections between the panels is such that a floor of anydesired size or shape may be readily laid merely by adding orsubtracting appropriate numbers of floor and sill panels. Likewise, thestructure of the several panels permit adjacent buildings to be tiedtogether by a common floor; the floors to be extended beyond thebuildings to form uncovered porches; or narrow extensions of the floorsmay be formed to provide Walks for connecting a number of adjacentbuildings. -Other ways of utilizing the floor structure will occur tothose skilled in the art.

Moreover, while I have shown and described what is now thought to be thepreferred embodiments of the invention it is to be understood that thesame is susceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently, I donot limit myself to the precise structures shown and describedhereinabove except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

A laminated sectional floor adapted to be mounted directly on theground, comprising a rectangular central assembly of oor panelsdetachably connected together, at least two elongated rectangularassemblies of sill panels detachably connected to opposite sides of saidoor panel assembly, said sill panels of said assemblies beinginterchangeable and reversable end-forend, said sill panels and floorpanels each comprising a top lamination of floor-providing material anda bottom lamination of resilient insulating material, sill boxes mountedatop each sill panel, the sill boxes oi each sill panel assembly beingin longitudinal alignment, said sill boxes each having upwardlyconverging side walls, each side wall being formed with means forconnecting a wall panel thereto, each sill panel being formed with innerand outer rows of holes therethrough, said rows being on opposite sidesof each sill box, the holes of said inner rows being diagonallydownwardly directed in one direction, the holes of said outer rows beingdiagonally downwardly directed in an intersecting direction, andgroundengaging anchoring means for said floor extensible through saidholes.

ALBERT DIETRICH.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 919,807 Bailey Apr. 27, 1909 959,286 Bailey May 24, 19102,034,521 Livings Mar. 17, 1936 2,085,215 Gonzalez June 29, 19372,453,326 Lambert Nov. 9, 1948 2,515,847 Winkler July 18, 1950 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 193,207 Great Britain of 1923

